Bobbin doffing device



Dec. 20, 1966 w DUBOISI 3,292,355

BOBBIN DOFFING DEVICE Filed Feb. 12, 1964 :5 Sheets-Sheet 1 A l INVENTOR. JOSEPH \ALDLJBQIS WMQQMM A TTORIVE Y' Dec. 20, 1966 J. w. Duaors 3,

BOBBIN DOFFING DEVICE Filed Feb. 12, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VENTOR.

Q055 W DLJBOIS A TTORNEY Dec. 20, 1966 J. w. DUBOIS 3,292,355

BOBBIN DOFFING DEVICE Filed Feb. 12, 1964 5 heets-Shee 3 A TTORNEY United States Patent 3,292,355 BOBBIN DOFFING DEVICE Joseph W. Duhois, North Smithfield, R.I., assignor to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass, a corporation of Maine Filed Feb. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 344,402 11 Claims. (Cl. 57-53) This invention pertains to the domng mechanism for removing fully wound bobbins [from the spindles of spinning frames, twisters, or the like and, particularly, to improved means for steadying and controlling the upward end of each bobbin during the vertical dofiin-g movement.

It is a general object of the invention to provide means for holding the bobbin in alignment with the spindle in opposition to the angular pressure exerted by the bobbin lifting cams.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for retaining control of the bobbin tip end until the doff from the spindle has been completed.

It is a further object -to provide a pivotal safety device for releasing the bobbin tip control in the event the doffing mechanism should be retracted before a bobbin is completely doifed.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent as further details are disclosed.

The instant invention provides improvements in the dofiing mechanism for such machines as that explained in United States Patent No. 3,077,725 and in patent application Serial No. 237,273, filed November 13, 1962, now U.S. Patent No. 3,176,458. The explanation of the dofiing and donning machine and the doifing mechanism in the above patent and application is clear and complete so that it is not felt to be necessary to repeat the details of such prior art in the present application.

The :doffing machine upon which the preferred modification may be applied is the portable carriage type which is adapted to be rolled to and mounted upon a forward rail of a spinning frame for doifing individual bobbins consecutively from the row of spindles thereon. The means for dofiing filled bobbins with the machine disclosed in the above cited patent and application involves a series of fixed cams which, through forward motion of the carriage, are forced beneath each bobbin causing it to rise upon the spindle and eventually to be expelled therefrom.

In order for the spinning bobbins to be rotated by the spindle at the speed required, -a tight drive fit is necessary between an internal point in the bobbin and a corresponding point on the spindle. To break the drive fit and loosen the bobbin, a slow-rise cam is the first of the series and is forced beneath the bobbin butt causing it to rise. A second cam which follows in continuation of the first cam but with an increased angle of rise, moves the bobbin even higher on the spindle. The third cam in the series is a flexible inclined member which is set to increase the rate of upward motion imparted to the bobbin, it being yieldably urged into contact with each spindle in a serpentine motion as the carriage is propelled along the spinning frame. As the bobbin reaches the high point on the flexible cam, it is toppled away from the tip of the spindle and directed through a chute into a receiving container.

It has been found that doffing in this manner has been subject to a number of malfunctions which have resulted in skipped bobbins, jammed bobbins, bent spindles, and forced retraction of the lifting cams. The invention herein described provides positive retaining and guiding means for the bobbin tip during the phases of the doffing cycle when the above malfunctions would have previously occurred. Where the tip of the bobbin is positively controlled in a vertical position, opportunity for those difficnlties mentioned above is not present and the doffer will proceed in an unrestricted movement along the spinning frame.

The invention will be described by reference to a specific embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the dofiing device applied to a doffing carriage and in position upon a spinning frame as viewed from behind the row of spindles;

FIG. 2 is an elevation viewed from the forward end of the device illustrating the tip retaining member at the first point of contact;

FIG. 3 is a similar elevation to FIG. 2 with the bobbin raised by the flexible camming edge and the tip guide controlling the bobbin in a vertical position; and

FIG. 4 is a similar forward end elevation showing the bobbin shield being pivoted as a safety measure in the event that the doffing device is retracted prior to a completed doff.

Now referring to FIG. 1, a spinning frame is illustrated by a ring rail 11 upon which are supported for vertical movement in the well-known manner a plurality of spinning rings 12. An equal number of upright spindles 13 in a row extend upward through the rings 12 and each would normally hold a filled bobbin 14 prior to the doffing cycle which will now be explained.

A horizonal rail 15 extends the full length of the frame in a position forward of the ring rail 11 and will support the doifing carriage generally designated 16 by wheels 17 (one shown). A doffing means broadly indicated at 18 is attached to the carriage 16 and is formed by two dofling units which are individually movable toward and away from the row of spindles 13 in a manner more completely explained in the above-cited United States patent. A face plate 19 is the supporting portion of the first dofiing unit and has affixed to its lower edge a unitary camming member comprising a first cairrming edge 20 directed at an inclination to the horizontal upwardly from the lower forward point 21 to a second ca-mming edge 22 which is a continuation of the first camming edge 20 but has an increased inclination.

As the carriage 16 is propelled along the frame, parallel to the row of spindles 13, the forward point 21 and cam 26 will be passed beneath the butt 23 of each bobbin 14. In most cases with dofling mechanisms of this type in the prior art the drive fit between bobbin and spindle would be broken by this first cam 26. However, where the drive fit was particularly tight, the cam might tip the bobbin inward of the frame, thus bend the spindle, or possible force the cam and face plate to retract outwardly against the normal doffing forces. In either case the bobbin would be jammed sufficiently to require the attention of an attendant, which would delay the operation. This possibility of malfunction is eliminated by a bobbin tip retaining member 24 which is fastened by bolts 25 to the upper edge of the face plate 19, it being bent at 26 to form with the tip retaining member 24 an archway through which the bobbin tip 27 may pass.

The tip retaining member 24 is downwardly extending in a generally vertical plane as at 28 which forms a tip retaining edge 29 spaced apart from the first and second camming member sufficiently to hold contact with the bobbin tip 27 as the butt 23 follows the face of each cam (FIGS. 1 and 2). The edge 29 defines an upwardly inclined l-ine generally parallel with the first 20 and second cam-ming edges 22. The puprpose of the upwardly inclined edge 29 is to maintain a continuous contact with the bobbin tip 27 but to assure that no contact is made with the yarn as the dofiing unit passes over the filled bobbin. The first point of contact between the bobbin tip 27 and tip retaining member 24 is flared outwardly at 30 to correct any small differences in bobbin position so that each bobbin will be properly aligned to be in contact wit-h the inner surface of the edge 29.

The desirable result from retaining the bobbin tip in the manner described has been to change the direction of force exerted by the cams 20 and 22 from an angle directed between horizontal and vertical to one completely vertical. The concentration of upward forces acts to break the drive fit in every case and frees the bobbin to be raised by a further cam which will be explained.

A second doffing unit is a part of the doffing means 18 and immediately follows the first unit in the normal direction of travel. A second face plate 31 supports along its lower edge a flexible inclined camming edge 32 which is pressed and yieldably urged against the row of spindles 13 in a manner fully explained in the above cited patent application. A pivotal shield 33 is supported at the upper edge of the second face plate 31 on a rod 34 and is adapted to yield outwardly toward the row of spindles against the holding force of a tension spring 35. Inward motion of the shield 33 is adjustably restricted by a shield stop rod 36.

In dofiing machines of this type, the units which are extended toward the row of spindles must be retracted at the starting and finishing ends of the frame in order to avoid striking the framework. It is therefore necessary to doif the first and last three bobbins in each row by hand as the dofiing units are purposely retracted while passing these six spindles. If, inadvertently, the last bobbins should not have been removed, the units would contact the retracting cam (not shown) and retract with a bobbin only partially dotted. This situation is illustrated in FIG. 4 and depicts the pivoting action of the bob-bin shield 33 acting as a safety feature to avoid damaging the spindle in such an instance.

A deflector spring 37 is fastened within the bobbin shield 33 and is curved outwardly from the row of spindles in a position to direct each released bobbin into a receiving chute 38 for passage into a suitable receptacle (not shown).

Afiixed to the bobbin shield 33 and pivotal therewith is an inverted U-shaped channel bobbin tip guide 39. This guide 39 is disposed directly above and generally parallel to the flexible camming edge 32. A pair of brush members, each including a bristle support 40 and a row of tufts of bristles 41, is fastened to the downwardly extending edges of the channel guide 39, being spaced apart by the width of the opening of said channel. The bristles may be formed as tufts as seen in FIG. 3 or as a single strand of high denier extrusion of such material as nylon. The bristles 41 are fastened to the support 40 in a straight row of tufts and each tuft is disposed similarly at an angle to the support of less than 90 degrees. Both rows of bristles 41 are directed inwardly and upwardly in relation to the tip guide 39 so that opposing sets of bristles overlap diagonally. The base of each individual tuft of bristles such as 42 and 43 (FIG. 3) does not directly oppose another but is offset longitudinally. This will tend to control the bobbin tip with more even tension as it passes through, rather than the intermittent tension which would result if the tip passed through a pair of bristles simultaneously. The tip guide 39 as well as the brush members 4%) and 41 are pivotal with the shield 33 and may be fastened thereto as with bolts 44 (FIG. 1).

In operation, after the carriage 16 has been placed upon the rail 15 and the dofling means 18 has been advanced to be in contact with the row of spindles 13, the mechanism is in position to be propelled along the row for the doffing of filled bobbins. Camming edge 20 is forced beneath the bobbin butt 23 and, as the edge is inclined upward, the bobbin raised and the drive fit between the spindle is broken. The tip retaining edge 29 restrains the bobbin and spindle from tipping so that the force exerted by the cam 20 is wholly vertical. This eliminates the possibility that a spindle may be bent and damaged because the bobbin cannot angle away from the cam 20 but must rise upon its inclined surface. After the drive fit has broken, the bobbin is lose upon the spindle and is further raised by earns 22 and 32. As the bobbin is raised, the force of cam 32 urges the butt forward in the direction of travel by the carriage. This would tend to tip the bobbin and cause binding with the spindle except that the bobbin tip end 27 is then in contact with the bristles 41 and is held in a vertical position thereby. The bobbin follows the full length of cam 32 and is then deflected by spring 37 into the chute 38.

If for any reason the final two or three bobbins in the row on the spinning frame have not been removed by hand, the dofiing means 18 will be retracted before those final bobbins can be completely doffed. Where previously this contingency would cause damage by bending the spindle, the instant invention now permits the shield 33 i and the tip guide 39 to pivot outwardly against the tension of a spring 35 and pass harmlessly over those last bobbins which will remain upon the spindles.

A further saving in time is realized by releasing the tension spring 35 and pivoting the shield 33 upward to replace a worn deflector spring 37 or worn brush members 40 and 41. This is accomplished without changing the cam or tip control settings.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details dei may be carried out in a number of ways.

scribed, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of th invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A device for doffing bobbins from a row of spindles, each of said bobbins having a tip end held upwardly by said spindles, said device comprising a carriage, doffing means attached to said carriage combining a first doffing unit and a second dofiing unit in trailing relationship to said first doffing unit, said first doffing unit including a unitary dual camming member and a bobbin tip retaining member, said camming member comprising a first camming edge at an inclination to the horizontal and a second camming edge in continuation of said first camming edge and at an increased inclination to the latter, said tip retaining member being spaced apart vertically from said camming member and including a downwardly extending tip retaining edge being directed generally in a parallel relationship with said camming member, said retaining edge maintaining contact with said bobbin tip during passage over said bobbin.

2. A device for dofiing bobbins from a row of spindles, each of said bobbins having a tip end held upwardly by said spindles, said device comprising a carriage, doffing means attached to said carriage combining a first dofi'ing unit and a second dofiing unit in trailing relationship to said first dofiing unit, a releasably pivotable bobbin shield mounted on said carriage to pass over said bobbins and being outwardly yieldable upon pressure being applied by a bobbin, and a bobbin tip guide supported directly above said second doffing unit.

3. A device for dofiing bobbinsfrom a row of spindles, each of said bobbins having a tip end held upwardlyby said spindles, said device comprising a carriage, dofiing means attached to said carriage combining a first dofi'ing unit and a second dofiing unit in trailing relationship to said first dofiing unit, said first unit having a unitary dual camming member comprising a first camming edge at an inclination to the horizontal and a second camming edge in continuation of said first camming edge and at an increased inclination to the latter, said second dofiing unit including a further camming edge at an inclination greater than said first or second camming edges, a releasably pivotable bobbin shield mounted on said carriage to pass over said bobbins and being adapted to yield outwardly upon pressure being applied by a bobbin, and a bobbin tip guide supported directly above and inclined generally parallel to said further camming edge.

A device for dofling bobbins from a row of spindles, each of said bobbins having a tip end held upwardly by said spindles, said device comprising a carriage, doffing means attached to said carriage combining a first dolfing unit and a second dofiing unit in trailing relationship to said first dofiing unit, said second dofling unit comprising a flexible inclined camming edge member yieldably urged into engagement with said spindles and adapted to serpentine therearound as said carriage moves past said spindles, a pivotal bobbin shield mounted on said carriage to pass over said bobbins and being outwardly yieldable upon pressure being applied by a bobbin, a bobbin tip guide being supported directly above and inclined generally parallel to said flexible edge member, said tip guide comprising an inverted U-shaped channel member, and a pair of spaced apart brush members through which each said bobbin tip end is passed as said carriage moves along said row of spindles.

5. Mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein said brush members are fastened to said channel member longitudinally adjacent each edge.

6. Mechanism as defined in claim 5 wherein said brush members each include a bristle support, and a row of tufts of bristles.

7. Mechanism as defined in claim 6 wherein said tufts of bristles are directed inward and upward within said channel member and overlap opposing tufts of bristles diagonally.

8. A device for dofling bobbins from a row of spindles, each of said lbobbins having a tip end held upwardly by said spindles, said device comprising a carriage, dofiing means attached to said carriage combining a first dofiing unit and a second dofling unit in trailing relationship to said first doffing unit, said first dofiing unit including a unitary dual camming member and a bobbin tip retaining member, said camming member comprising a first camming edge at an inclination to the horizontal and a second camming edge in continuation of said first camming edge and at an increased inclination to the latter, said tip retaining member being spaced apart vertically from said camming member and including a downwardly extending tip retaining edge being directed generally in a parallel relationship with said camming member, said retaining edge maintaining contact with said bobbin tip during passage over said bobibin, said second doffing unit comprising a flexible inclined camming edge member yieldably urged into engagement with said spindles and adapted to serpentine therearound as said carriage moves past said spindles, a pivotal bobbin shield mounted on said carriage to pass over said bobbins and being adapted to yield outwardly upon pressure being applied by a bobbin, said Ibobbin shield urged inwardly by tensioning means, a bobbin tip guide supported directly above and inclined generally parallel to said flexible inclined camming edge member, said tip guide including an inverted U-shaped channel member, and a pair of spaced apart brush members through which each said bobbin tip end is passed as said carriage moves along said row of spindles, said brush members being fastened to said channel member longitudinally adjacent each edge.

9. Mechanism as defined in claim 8 wherein said brush members each include a bristle support, and a row of tufts of bristles, said tufts of bristles being directed inward and upward within said channel member and overlap opposing row of tufts of bristles diagonally.

10. Mechanism as defined in claim 8 wherein said bobbin tip guide is pivotal with said bobbin shield when excess pressure is applied by a bobbin.

11. A device for doffing bobbins from an upright row of spindles, each of said bobbins having a tip end held upwardly by said spindles, said device comprising a carriage, dofiing means attached to said carriage combining a first dofiing unit and a second doffing unit in trailing relationship to said first dofiing unit, said first doffing unit including a unitary dual camming member and a bobbin tip retaining member, said camming member comprising a first camming edge at an inclination to the horizontal and a second camming edge in continuation of said first camming edge and at an increased inclination to the latter, said tip retaining member being spaced apart vertically from said camming member and including a downwardly extending tip retaining edge being directed generally parallel with said camming member, said retaining edge maintaining contact with said bobbin tip during passage over said bobbin, said retaining edge being outwardly flared at point of first contact with said bobbin tip for initially positioning said bobbin for passage by said first and second dotting units, said second doffing unit comprising a flexible inclined camming edge member yieldably urged into engagement with said spindles and adapted to serpentine therearound as said carriage moves past said spindles, a pivotal bobbin shield mounted on said carriage to pass over said bobbins and being adapted to yield outwardly upon pressure being applied by a bobbin, said bobbin shield urged inwardly by tensioning means, a bobbin tip guide supported directly above and inclined generally parallel to said flexible inclined camming edge member, said tip guide including an inverted U-shaped channel member, and a pair of spaced apart brush members, said brush members being fastened to said channel member longitudinally adjacent each edge, said brush members each including a bristle support member, and a row of tufts of bristles, said tufts of bristles being directed inward and upward within said channel member and overlap opposing row of tufts of bristles diagonally, one said row of tufts of bristles being offset longitudinally from the other so that the base of one tuft does not directly oppose another, and said channel member with said brush members being pivotal with said bobbin shield when excess pressure is applied by a bobbin.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,077,725 2/ 1963 Du Buis et al 575 3 3,103,096 9/1963 Prat 57-53 3,176,458 4/1965 Dubois et a1. 57-53 FOREIGN PATENTS 9,529 of 1914 Great Britain.

FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

J. PETRAKES, Assistant Examiner, 

1. A DEVICE FOR DOFFING BOBBINS FROM A ROW OF SPINDLES, EACH OF SAID BOBBINS HAVING A TIP END HELD UPWARDLY BY SAID SPINDLES, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A CARRIAGE, DOFFING MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID CARRIAGE COMBINING A FIRST DOFFING UNIT AND A SECOND DOFFING UNIT IN TRAILING RELATIONSHIP TO SAID FIRST DOFFING UNIT, SAID FIRST DOFFING UNIT INCLUDING A UNITARY DUAL CAMMING MEMBER AND A BOBBIN TIP RETAINING MEMBER, SAID CAMMING MEMBER COMPRISING A FIRST CAMMING EDGE AT AN INCLINATION TO THE HORIZONTAL AND A SECOND CAMMING EDGE IN CONTINUATION OF SAID FIRST CAMMING EDGE AND AT AN INCREASED INCLINATION TO THE LATTER, SAID TIP RETAINING MEMBER BEING SPACED APART VERTICALLY FROM SAID CAMMING MEMBER AND INCLUDING A DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING TIP RETAINING EDGE BEING DIRECTED GENERALLY IN A PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID CAMMING MEMBER, SAID RETAINING EDGE MAINTAINING CONTACT WITH SAID BOBBIN TIP DURING PASSAGE OVER SAID BOBBIN.
 3. A DEVICE FOR DOFFING BOBBINS FROM A ROW OF SPINDLES, EACH OF SAID BOBBINS HAVING A TIP END HELD UPWARDLY BY SAID SPINDLES, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A CARRIAGE, DOFFING MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID CARRIAGE COMBINING A FIRST DOFFING UNIT AND A SECOND DOFFING UNIT IN TRAILING RELATIONSHIP TO SAID FIRST DOFFING UNIT, SAID FIRST UNIT HAVING A UNITARY DUAL CAMMING MEMBER COMPRISING A FIRST CAMMING EDGE AT AN INCLINATION TO THE HORIZONTAL AND A SECOND CAMMING EDGE IN CONTINUATION OF SAID FIRST CAMMING EDGE AND AT AN INCREASED INCLINATION TO THE LATTER, SAID SECOND DOFFING UNIT INCLUDING A FURTHER CAMMING EDGE AT AN INCLINATION GREATER THAN SAID FIRST OR SECOND CAMMING EDGES, A RELEASABLY PIVOTABLE BOBBIN SHIELD MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE TO PASS OVER SAID BOBBINS AND BEING ADAPTED TO YIELD OUTWARDLY UPON PRESSURE BEING APPLIED BY A BOBBIN, AND A BOBBIN TIP GUIDE SUPPORTED DIRECTLY ABOVE AND INCLINED GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID FURTHER CAMMING EDGE. 